Heel seat fitting machine



July]; 1947.

I J. w. ASHLEY HEEL S EAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2:, i945 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor John W'Jshl July 1947'. J. W.VASHLEY 2,423,136

HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 23, ,1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor tfofin Wflshley July 1, 1947.

,1; w. ASHLEY HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25,1945

1.2 s eet -sheet 5 Jam [K119711651 y 1947- J. w. ASHLEY HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 liwentor r/bhn Wi s/ 1 Z ey J. w. ASHLEY 2,423,136 I HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE v I Filed Nov. 23, 1945 p 12 Sheets-Sheet s Inventor 40 rfofin Wflshly y 4 Y J. w. ASHLEY 2,423,136

HE EL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet e Inventor 'lJbZLTL ill Ashley July- I, 1947. w, H Y 2,423136 HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 23, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 y 1947' j w. ASHLEY I 2,423,136

HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHiNE Filed Nov. 23, 1945 l2 Sheets-Sheet 9 In 126 nfiar John Wfldzley July 1, 1947.

J. w. ASHFEY HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 23, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 1O July 1, 1947. J. w. ASHLEY 2,423,136

HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet ll I 130 T w 250 1 1 w? I -w 1%: 120' -Jz2 I Inventor r154 11 07111, WAahZey July I, 1947. J. w. ASHLEY 2,423,136

HEEL SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1945 I IZ'SheetS-Sheet 12 IIIIHHIIHIII I I l I Patented. July 1, 1947 HEEL SEAT FITTlN G MACHINE John W. Ashley, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. 5., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 23, 1945, Serial No. 630,259

44 Claims. (01. 12-315) This invention relates to machines for preparing the heel-seat portions of outsoles of womens shoes for the reception of heels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved heel seat fitting machine of the general type. disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,805,039, granted May 12, 1931, on an application filed in the name of Sidney J. Finn. With the above object in View and in accordance with a feature of this invention, there are provided, in a heel seat fitting machine, a tubular cutter, a support for a shoe, a matrix constructed and arranged to be engaged by the heel-seat portion of an attached outsole of the shoe, presser member for forcing the heel-seat portion of said outsole against the matrix, and means for effecting relative movement of translation between the cutter on the one hand and the support and the matrix on the other hand to cause the heel-seat portion of the outsole flexed progressively between the presser member and the matrix to be reduced.

In order to form heel breast receiving shoulders on the outsole and to remove from said outsole a horseshoe-shaped chip of surplus material trimmed during the heel seat reducing operation from the margin of the heel-seat portion of the outsole by the tubular cutter, there is provided, in accordance with another feature of this invention, a power-driven cutter which is movable transversely of the outsole of the shoe held stationary upon the shoe support along a curved cutting edge of the tubular cutter for forming upon the outsole heel breast receiving shoulders suitably shaped for the reception of Louis heels. In accordance with a further feature of the pres- .ent, invention, the shoe support of the illustrative machine is mounted for swinging movement in timed relation to the movement of the shoulder forming cutter, the construction and arrangement being such that the heel-seat portion of the outsole of the shoe mounted upon the support is swung laterally in the general plane of its break line as the shoulder forming cutter is moved transversely of the outsole. thereby removing from the outsole material trimmed from the heel-seat portion of the outsole by the tubular cutter, to form on said outsole heel breast receiving shoulders shaped and arranged to receive a Cuban heel.

The illustrative matrix upon which the heelseat portion of the outsol is supported comprises, in accordance with another feature of the invention, a pair of plates outcurved work supporting faces of which are positioned adjacent to, and in approximately concentric relation with, the circular cutting edge of the tubular cutter, said plates forming between them a U-shaped opening into which the central part of the heel-seat portion of the outsol is forced by the presser member during the heel seat reducing operation. In order to vary the size of the heel seat tab formed upon the fitted heel-seat portion of the outsole in accordance with the size'of the shoe, said matrix plates are initially adjustable toward and away from each other, thus varying the size of said U-shaped opening.

The relative positions of the shoe support and the tubular cutter at the end of the heel seat reducing operation are constant and accordingly there is provided, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, a back gage which constitutes part of the shoe support and is constructed and arranged for movement into difi'erent adjusted positions upon the support to locate the shoe in different lengthwise positions upon said support in accordance with the size of the shoe to be operated upon, thereby insuring that the heel breast receiving shoulders formed upon the outsole of the shoe shall be formed at the proper positions lengthwise of the outsole.

The above and various other features of the invention will be understood and appreciated from the following detailed description read in connection with a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are front, side, and plan views,

respectively, of the illustrative machine;

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged views, partly broken away, on line IV-IV of Fig. 3, showing the machine in the process of forming upon the outsole of a shoe shoulders which Louis and Cuban heels, respectively, abut;

Fig. 6 is a plan view, partly broken away, on line VI-VI of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a plan view, partly broken away, on

line VIIVII of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing crease plates of the machine and mechanism for supporting and adjusting said plates;

Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged views showing the attached outsole of a shoe in the process of having its heel seat fitted in the illustrative machine for the reception of a heel; a

Fig. 11 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, on line XI--XI of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11a is a view on line XIar-XIa of Fig. 11; Fig. 12 is a section on line XlL-XII of Fig. 5; Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, with parts broken away;

Fig. 14. is a section on line XIV-Y-XIV of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a side view of the shoe support of the illustrative machine;

Fig. 16 is a section on line XVIXVI of Fig. 15;

Figs. 17 and 18 are perspective views showing shoes the heel-seat portions of the attached outsoles of which have been fitted for the reception of Louis and Cuban heels, respectively, by the use of the illustrative machine; and

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view showing the path of swinging movement of the outsole of the shoe mounted upon the support illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16 when the machine is operating upon Cuban work.

The illustrative machine will be described with reference to fitting the heel-seat portions I8 (Figs. 9, 15, 18 and 19) of attached outsoles 28 of womens shoes 22 for the reception of Louis and Cuban heels 24 (Fig. 1'7), 26 (Fig. 18), respectively, and comprises a tubular cutter 28 having. circular cutting edge 30 rotatable about a horizontal axis 32 (Figs. 2, 3, 6 and '7), and a carrier 34 (Figs. 1 to 3, and 8) which is slidable lengthwise of said axis and supports a pair of matrix or crease plates 36 against which is forced, by mechanism hereinafter described, the heelseat portion of the outsole of the shoe resting upon a support 40 (Figs. 2 to 5, 12 to 16) mounted upon th carrier. The machine is also provided with a presser member 42 (Figs. 1 to 3, 6, '7, 9 to 11a) comprising a plurality of spring-pressed plungers 44 constructed and arranged to force areas of the heel-seat portion of the outsole 20 arranged just in front of the cutting edge 30 of the cutter 28 against the matrix plates 38 and into a U-shaped opening 46 (Figs. 6 and 8 to formed between said plates, means for moving the carrier 34 and accordingly the support 48 together with the matrix plates 36 toward the cutter 28 in a path parallel to said axis 32 to cause a horseshoe-shaped chip 48 (Figs. 4 to '7 and 10) to be removed from the heel-seat portion of the outsole supported by the crease plates, thereby forming a. heel seat tab 50 (Figs. 17 and 18), and

a power-driven toothed rotary cutter 52 which is rnovable ibodily about the axis 32 in a plane 5I (Figs. 6, 7 and 11a.) arranged transversely of the outsole and is in approximate engagement with but spaced from the cutting edge 3|! of the heel seat reducing cutter 28 to form Louis heel breast receiving shoulders 54 (Fig. 17) upon and to remove the horseshoe-shaped chip .8 from the outsole. As will be explained later, in order to form laterally outcurved heel breast receiving shoulders 58 (Fig. 18) which are curved longitudinally of the outsole to accommodate the Cuban heel 26 which has a'transversely inourved heel breast 58, means are provided whereby the shoe support may be swung laterally upon the work carrier 34,

as will appear later, in response to and in timed relation with bodily movement of the shoulder forming cutter 52.

A frame 60 of the machine is secured upon a pedestal 62 (Figs. 1 and 2) by screws 64 and comprises a housing 66 (Figs. 1 to 3 and 'I) in bearings 68, I0 (Fig. 2) of which is rotatably mounted a drive shaft I2 (Figs. 2, 6 and '7). Threaded onto the forward end of the drive shaft 12 is the tubular cutter 2,8 and secured to the rear end of the shaft are pulleys 14, 16 (Figs. 2 and 3) which are operatively connected by a belt I8 to a pulley 80 secured to the forward end of a shaft 82 of an electric motor 84. The cutter shaft I2 isheld in its proper lengthwise position in the bearing I0 by collars 98 (Fig. 2) which are pinned to the shaft and engage opposite ends of the bearing.

Pinned to bosses 94 (Figs. 2 and 3), 96 (Fig. 3) formed integral with plates 98, I00, respectively, bolted to opposite sides of the housing 66 are a pair of horizontally arranged bearing rods I82 (Figs. 1 to 5 and 8), I84 (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 8), the carrier 34 being slidably mounted upon said rods which pass through a cylindrical bore I86 (Figs. 2 and 3) of a boss I08 of the carrier and through a recess II I] of said carrier, fiat upper and lower surfaces II2 (Figs. 3, 4 and 8) of the rod I04 engaging upper and lower flat faces of the recess. Secured to the forward ends of the rods I02, I84 are stop collars I4 (Figs. 1 and 4), H6 (Figs. 1, 3 and 8) for limiting forward movement of the carrier 34 upon said rods, rearward movement of the carrier being limited by the engagement of the rear end of the boss I08 with a stop collar I I8 (Figs. 2 and 3) secured to the rod I02.

The work carrier 34 may be moved manually back and forth along the bearing rods I82, I04 between said stop collars but is preferably operated along said rods by a treadle-operated link 59 (Fig. 2) which is pivoted at its forward end to said carrier and at its rear end to a bell-crank lever III secured to a fulcrum pin II3 mounted for rotation in the main frame 60. The bellcrank lever III is operatively connected through a link II5 (Figs. 1 and 2) to a treadle In which is pivoted upon a fulcrum pin II9 supported by the main frame 60 and is normally held in a raised position by a strong spring I2I (Fig. 2) which constantly urges the bell-crank lever III counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, and the carrier to its retracted idle position against the collars H4, H6. After the shoe has been positioned upon the support 49, by mechanism hereinafter described, the operator depresses the treadl II'i, causing the heel-seat portion of the outsole of the shoe mounted upon the support to be presented to the tubular cutter 28 to trim the horseshoe-shaped chip 48 from said heel-seat portion. After forming, through mechanism which will be described later, the heel breast receiving shoulders 54, 56 and removing the horseshoe-shaped chip 48 from the outsole, the operator removes his foot from the treadle Ill and the carrier 34 actuated by the spring I2I moves forward to its retracted position against the collars H4, H6.

The carrier 34 comprises a vertically arranged plate I28 to which is secured a horizontal platform I22 having mounted on it a sector gear I24 provided with a cylindrical bore I26 (Fig. 14) and meshing with a rack I28 which is secured by screws I38 to an upstanding lip of the platform and the teeth of which have a pitch line I29 (Fig. 12). Secured by bolts I34 to the gear I24 is a bracket I38 of the shoe support 40, said bracket having a recess for receiving a boss of the gear. The bore I26 in the gear I24 is constructed and arranged to receive a guide pin I40 (Figs. 5, 6, 13 and 14) extending downward, through an elongated transverse slot I42 formed in the platform I22. The guide pin I43 is provided at its lower end with a shoulder against which a washer I4 1 is forced by a nut I46, the arrangement being such that when the washer is forced against said shoulder the washer and a flange I48 of the guide pin i 19 engage the upper face of the gear and the lower face of the support, respectively, with a slight amount of pressure so as to permit combined rotation and sliding movement of the gear I24 on the platform I22 when a link I which is pivotally connected to the upper end of the guide pin hill is moved transversely of the machine, as will be hereinafter described.

When shoes 22 are being fitted for the reception of Louis heels 2 5, the gear I24 is secured to the platform I222 by a spring-pressed detent I54 (Figs. 1, 5, 6, 12, 13 and 14) which is carried by the platform and when rotated to a central position is permitted to enter a. recess I55 in the gear. As will be hereinafter explained, when shoes 22 are fitted for the reception of Cuban heels 26, the detent 54 is withdrawn from the recess I56, the gear iii being rotated, upon transverse movement of the link I511, in response to transverse movement of the shoulder forming cutter 52, in order to form generated cuts frming the heel breast receiving shoulders 55.

Fixed to and extending rearward from the vertical plate I 20 of the carrier 34 are a pair of rods I58 the rear ends of which. are secured to a header I68, an upper surface I 62 (Figs. 6, 8, 15 and 16) of the header being centered about the axis of rotation 32 of the tubular cutter 28 and being constructed and arranged to support the rear ends of the matrix or crease plates 38. The front ends of the matrix plates 36 are secured by screws its to blocks I66 having dovetail arcuate portions I58 movable along arcuate guideways I-lE (Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 8) which are formed in the vertical plate I29 and are arranged in concentric relation to the axis of rotation 32 of the tubular cutter 2-8. It will be noted that the matrix plates 36 are curved laterally in approximately concentrie relation to a blade I12 of the tubular cutter 28, work supporting cylindrical surfaces I14 (Figs.

8 and! of the plates being arranged in close proximity to the inside cylindrical face of the blade I12. As above explained, the forward portions of the opposing margins of the matrix plates 36 form the U-shaped opening 45, margins of the plates surrounding the U-shaped opening being beveled. The matrix plates together may be referred to as a matrix and the plates may also be referred to as matrices. 1

The shoe supporting bracket ilifi extends upward and rearward and has slidably mounted upon it a block I16 to which is secured by screws I11 (Figs. 4, 15 and 16) a leaf spring I18 constructed and arranged to be engaged by the cone of a last I85) upon which the shoe to be operated upon is mounted. Secured to an upstanding rear end portion of the block I15 is a back gage Iii? (Figs. 4 to 7, l1 and 15) constructed and arranged. to be engaged by the rear end of the shoe adja cent to its heel seat, the gage serving to position the shoe, the forward end of which engages a toe rest I84 (Figs. 1 to 3, 6 and 7) and the heel-seat portion of the outsole of which overlies the matrix plates 36, as above described, lengthwise upon the spring I18 and the toe rest, said members forming parts of the shoe support is. Although the matrix plates 36 are not directly connected to the support 46, they afford support for the heel-seat portion of the outsole and may be considered as part of the support.

The toe rest I84 comprises an arcuate pad I86 secured to the upper end of a housing I88 which has a vertical bore .ISll (Fig. 2) for receiving a rack IE2 forming part of a slide I93 and meshing with a pinion led integral with a shaft I95 rotatably mounted in the housing. Secured to the shaft I96 outside said housing is a ratchet I98 (Figs. 1 and 2) and also a knurled hand grip 255 for turning the ratchet for the purpose of raising and lowering the housing upon therack. The

position of the back housing I88 is held in its adjusted position upon the rack I92 by a pawl 2B2 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and '7) which is mounted upon a fulcrum pin '204 secured to the housing and is constantly forced against the ratchet I98 by a leaf spring 206. In order to insure against there being any vertical play between the housing E88 and the rack Hi2 and to cause the housing to move to its lowered position when the pawl 292 is lifted out of engagement with the rack 38, there is provided a, tension spring 298 the lower end of which i fixed to the slide Hi3 and the upper end of which is fixed-to the housing I 83.

In order to enable the pad I86 to be moved into different adjusted positions lengthwise of the shoe support it], the slide I93 is supported by a forwardly extending bar 2I0 secured to the bracket I36, said bar having at its lower surface teeth 2I2 (Fig. 2) against which spring-pressed detents 2 I4 carried by the slide I 93 are constantly urged to keep the slide from moving from its adjusted position upon the bar. The slide I93 may be adjusted by hand into different positions along the bar 2N3 after moving the detents 2H away from the teeth 2 I2 of the bar.

As above explained, in fitting the heel-seat portion of the outsole of the shoe mounted upon the support, the carrier 34 is moved rearward upon the rods I02, I04 until the boss I08 (Figs. 2, 3 and 8) of the carrier engages the fixed collar II 8 of the rod I02, front edges 2I6 (Figs. 8, 9 and 10) of the matrix plates 36 at such time being in approximate engagement with the cutting edge 35.] of the cutter 28. Since the fitted heel seats of hoes of different sizes are of different lengths, it will be apparent that shoes of different sizes must be initially located in different lengthwise positions upon the shoe support 40 preparatory to reducing the outsole. Accordingly, the back gage I82 and the leaf spring I18 are adjustable forward and rearward upon the bracket I36 by turning an adjusting nut ZIB (Figs. 4, 5, l5 and 16) rotatable in the bracket and having threaded into it an extension of the block I16. The adjusted gage I82 and the leaf spring I18 with relation to the bracket I36 may be readily determined at a glance by the use of a pointer 224 (Figs. 4, 15 and 16) secured to the block I16 and movable, upon lengthwise adjustment of the block upon the bracket, along a scale 225 graduated for both Louis and Cuban work. The block I16 may be rigidly secured in its different adjusted positions to the bracket I36 by a ets-crew 226 threaded into the block I16 and having its end in forced engagement with the bracket.

With a view to varying the width 'of the heel seat tab 50 of the outsole 20 in accordance with the size of the shoe to be operated upon, the matrix plates 36 are initially adjust-able about the axis 32 of rotation of the cutter 28 by mechanism which will now be described. Pivotally connected to each of the matrix plate supporting blocks I (55 which, as above explained, are movable in arcuate guideways I10 centered about the axis 32, is one of a pair of arms 228 the lower ends of which are pivoted to a crossbar 230 (Figs. 1, 2 and 8) having pinned to it a cylindrical plunger 232 slidingly mounted in a recess 234 of the plate I29 of the carrier 34. Threaded into the crossbar 231) is a screw 236, said screw being held in different adjusted positions in the crossbar by a lock nut 238. The upper end of the screw 236 is constantly held in engagement with the lower end of the plate I20 by a pair of strong springs 240 the upper ends of which are attached to the plate and the lower ends of which are attached to the crossbar 288. The crease plates 36 may be readily moved away from each other to facilitate the positioning of the shoe upon the support 48 by the use of a treadle 231 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is mounted upon a fulcrum pin 239 carried by the machine frame 68 and is operatively connected by a link 24I to the cylindrical plunger 232. In order that the machine operator may determine at a glance the widthwise setting of the matrix plates 36 in accordance with the width of the heel which is to be attached to the shoe about to be operated upon, the arcuate portion I68 of each of the blocks I66 has secured to it a pointer 242 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) arranged in close proximity to a suitably graduated scale 244 on the plate I28.

In fitting the heel-seat portion I8 of the outsole 26 of the shoe 22 for the reception of a heel, after properly adjusting the block I16 to which the back gage I82 and the leaf spring I18 are secured the shoe is positioned upon the support 48 with its rear end in engagement with the back gage, the crown of the last I88 being in engagement with the spring I18, as best illustrated in Fig. 15, and the toe of the shoe being in engagement with the pad I86. The leaf spring I18 forces the overlasted counter portion of the shoe, the margin of which has a break line 246 (Fig. 18) arranged in a plane, against the undersideof the matrix plates 36 and thus serves, together with the back gage I82 and the toe rest I86, to retain the shoe quite rigidly upon the shoe support 48. After positioning the shoe upon the support 48, the operator Swings the presser member 42 downward, causing the spring-pressed plungers 44 thereof to be forced against areas of the heel-seat portion I8 of the outsole 28 located just forward of the cutting edge 38 of the cutter 28, the central piungers forcing the heel-seat portion into the opening 46 of the matrix plates 36 and the outer plungers forcing the lateral margins of said heelseat portion against the cylindrical outside surfaces I14 of the matrix plates.

The presser member 42 comprises a housing 248 (Figs. 1 to 3, 11 and 110.) having a plurality of guideways 258 (Figs. 11 and 11a) for receiving the plungers 44 which are provided with elongated slots 252 through which passes a pin 254 secured in the housing. Each of the plunger 44 is provided with a cylindrical shank 256 fitting in a recess 258 of a guide screw 268 threaded into the housing 248, springs 262 being interposed between the guide screws and shoulders on the plungers. The presser member 42 is mounted upon a lever 264 secured to one end of a shaft 266 rotatably mounted in a bore of the machine frame 68, and secured to the other end of the shaft is an arm 268 to which is secured a tension spring 218 the rear end of which is attached to the machine frame. The lever 264 is swung counterclockwise, as shown in Fig. 2, from its dash line position, in which a stop screw 212 carried by the lever is held by the spring 218 against the machine frame, to an operative position in which a spring-pressed detent 214 mounted upon the frame is moved into a recess 216 formed in the lever 264. When the presser member 42 is in its operative position, the spring-pressed plungers 44 force the heel-seat portion I8 of the outsole 28 attached to the shoe 22 against the cylindrical surfaces I14 of the matrix plates 36 and into the U-shaped opening 46, as above described. As the shoe support 48 and the matrix plates 36, together with the shoe positioned thereon, are moved rearward into the interior of the tubular cutter 28,

the horseshoe-shaped chip 48 trimmed by slicing cuts from the heel-seat portion I8 of the outsole 28 rides up over the top of the cutter 28, thereby forming the heel seat tab 58 which overlies the U-shaped opening 46 and underlies the inside cylindrical face of the blade I12 of the cutter. At the end of the heel seat reducing operation the tubular cutter 28 supports the horseshoeshaped chip 48 and may be referred to as a support therefor.

The shoulder forming cutter 52 is secured by a screw 218 to the forward end of a shaft 288 which is rotatably mounted in an arm 282 of a rocker block 284, the shaft being secured against lengthwise movement in the block by collars 286 (Figs. 3, 6, '7 and 11a). The rear end of the shaft 288 is pinned to a universal coupling 288 (Figs. 2 and 3) operatively connected to the forward end of a shaft 288 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 292 secured by a screw 294 (Fig. 2) and a dowel pin to the housing 66, a pulley 286 being secured to the shaft and operated through a belt 298 driven by the pulley 14.

The rocker block 284 is rotatably supported upon a rod 388 (Figs. 1 to 5) secured at its forward end to a holder block 382 having a depending arcuate slide portion 384 fittin in an undercut arcuate guideway 386 (Figs. 4, 5 and 8) which is formed in the front portion of the plate I28 of the carrier 34 and is centered about the axis of rotation 32 of the tubular cutter 28. The rocker block 284 has threaded in it and secured to it by a lock nut 388 a screw 3I8 the lower end of which is constantly forced against a fiat face 3I2 (Figs. 2 and 3) of a cam 3I4 by a spring-pressed plunger 3I6 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) mounted in a recess 3I8 of the rocker block 284. The forward end of the cam 3I4 fits in a channel 328 of the holder block 382 and is provided with an elongated slot 322 (Figs. 2 and 5) through which passes a screw 324 which is threaded into the holder block and serves to secure the cam to said block. The rocker block 284 is supported against movement lengthwise of the rod 388, which is parallel to the axis 32 of the heel seat reducing or tubular cutter 28, by an abutment 326. The abutment 326 is secured at its lower end to the rod I82 and has its upper end fitting in a slot 328 formed between bifurcations of the rocker block 284, the arrangement being such that the acting or working teeth of the shoulder forming cutter 52 are at all times arranged approximately in the plane 5I (Figs. 6, '7 and 11a) which, as above stated, is positioned just forward of the plane of the cutting edge 38 of the heel seat reducing cutter 2B.

When the carrier 34 is in its forward or idle position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the screw 3I8 carried by the rocker block 284 is held in forced engagement with the face 3I2 of the cam 3I4, which face may be referred to as the low portion of the cam, by the spring-pressed plunger 3I6, the cutter 52 then being held in its raised idle position a considerable distance from the heel seat reducing cutter 28, as shown in Fig. l. During the rearward movement of the carrier 34 On the rods I82, I84, the outsole 28 of the shoe 22 mounted upon the shoe support 48 is pressed against the matrix plates 36 and into the U- shaped openin 46 by the plungers 44 of the presser member 42, and is forced against the cutting edge 38 of the cutter 28 to form the heel seat tab 58, as above described, the shoulder forming cutter 52 at that time being held approximately in a heightwise median plane 23l (Figs. 6 and 19) of the outsole of the shoe, in its raised position awayv from the heel seat reducing cutter 28 by reason of the engagement of the screw 3I0 of the rocker block 284 with the low portion 3I2 of the cam 3I4. When the collar I I8 upon the bearing rod I02 is engaged by the boss I08 of the carrier 34 to limit rearward movement of the carrier, the front edges 2I6 of the matrix plates 36 are arranged just forward of the plane of the cutting edge 30 of the cutter 28, the screw 3I0 having ridden up an inclined face of the cam 3I4 onto a high face 330 (Figs. 2 to 5) of said cam, causing the cutter 52 to be swung bodily downward about the shaft 300 into a position in which the teeth of the cutter extend just below the cutting edge 30 of the heel seat reducing cutter 28 and just overlie, but do not engage, the median portion of the outsole, the horseshoe-shaped chip 48 extending over the cutting edge 30 at opposite sides of the shoulder forming cutter.

The power-driven shoulder forming cutter 52 is then swung bodily about the axis of rotation 32 along the cutting edge 30 of the heel seat reducing cutter 28 by swinging a lever 334 (Figs. 1 to 5) which is rotatably mounted upon a fulcrum pin 336 secured to an extension of the plate I20 of the carrier 34, the inner end of the lever being operatively connected by a link 338 to the arcuate slide portion 304 of the holder block 302 which carries the shaft 300. When the heel-seat portions I8 of outsoles 20 of shoes 22 are fitted for the reception of Louis heels 24 I (Fig. 17), the shoulders 54 are arranged approximately in a plane for engagement by the forward end of the lip of the Louis heel. It will thus be apparent that in order to form the heel breast receiving shoulders 54 arranged approximately in a plane it is desirable to have the shoe remain stationary while the shoulder forming cutter 52 is moved along the cutting edge 30 of the heel seat reducing cutter 28 to form said shoulders, 1

When, however, the heel-seat portions I8 of outsoles 20 attached to shoes 22 are being prepared for the reception of Cuban heels 26 (Fig. 18), the breasts of which are transversely incurved and in the finished shoe engage the convex shoulders 56 formed upon the outsole, the bracket I 38 of the shoe support 40 is swung, as will be explained later, as the shoulder forming cutter 52 moves along the cutting edge 30 of the heel seat reducing cutter 28, with the result that generated cuts are produced forming the outcurved heel breast receiving shoulders 56.

In order to swing the shoe support 40 in timed relation with the shoulder forming cutter 52 in the formation of the heel breast receiving shoulder 56, the lever 334 carries a spring-pressed detent 340. When a pin 342 carried by the detent 340 rests in a shallow slot 344 of the lever 334, said detent is spaced from a recess 343 in a quadrant 348 pivotally mounted upon the fulcrum pin 336 and accordingly movement of the lever does not effect movement of the quadrant. When, however, the detent 340 has been rotated to such a position in the lever 334 that its pin 342 fits in a deep slot 350 of the lever, said detent, upon swinging movement of the lever, registers in the recess 346 of the quadrant 348, with the result that movement of the lever 334 about the axis of thefulcru'm pin 336 causes a corresponding angular movement of the quadrant about the axis of said pin. The coupling arrangement between the lever 334 and the quadrant 348 is such that the cutter 52 is arranged approximately in its central position directly above the central heel breast line portion of the outsole of the shoe when the heightwise median plane 23I of the outsole is in its central position disposed at approximately right angles to the plane of the cutting edge 30 of the tubular cutter 28.

The quadrant 348 is provided with a slot 352 and is operatively connected to thelink I50 by a shouldered pin 354 which has a threaded shank portion passing through the slot and may be secured in different selected positions in the slot by a nut 358 threaded onto said shank portion. The inner end of the link I50, a above explained, is pivotally connected to the guide pin I40 which extends downward through the cylindrical bore 26 in the sector gear I24, through the elongated slot I42 in the platform I22, and is held coupled to the gear by the nut I48. When the quadrant 348 is coupled to the lever 334, swinging movement of the lever upon the pin 336 causes the pin I40 to move lengthwise of the slot I42 in the platform I22, with the result that the gea I24 meshing with the rack I28 will rotate in and move to a slight extent as a unit lengthwise of the slot,

As above stated, the general plane of movement 5| (Figs. 6, 9 and 11a) of the shoulder forming cutter 52 passes approximately through the pitch line I29 (Fig. 12) of the teeth of the rack I28 when the carrier 34, is in its rearward position, the gear I24 having a radius of approximately two-and-one-quarter inches, which is equal to the radius of transverse curvature of the breast 58 of the Cuban heel 26 and accordingly approximately equal to the longitudinal curvature of a heel breast line 358 (Fig. 18) of the outsole.

When the detent 340 registers in the recess 346 of the quadrant 348 and the leve 334 has been swung to a horizontal position, the heightwise median plane 23I (Figs. 6 and 19) of the outsole of the shoe mounted upon the shoe support 40 is arranged at approximately right angles .to the plane of the cutting edge 30 of the tubular cutter 28. The operator then moves the carrier 34, upon which the shoe support 40 is mounted, rear- Ward against the stop collar H8, causing the horseshoe-shaped chip 48 to be sliced from the periphery of the heel-seat portion of the outsole and causing the shoulder forming cutter 52 to swing down about the axis of the rod 300 into a position in which it is arranged just over the center of the heel breast line 358 (Figs. 18 and 19) of the outsole and just below and forward of the cutting edge 30 of the tubular cutte 28.

In order to insure th formation of smooth heel breast receiving shoulders 58 extending along the longitudinally curved heel breast line 358 of the outsole, the shoe support 40 is rotated, together with the gear I24, and is moved lengthwise of the transverse slot I42 (Figs. 5, 7 and 12 to 14) in the platform I22. It will be noted that when the carrier 34 has moved rearward against the stop collar I I8 to slice th horseshoe-shaped chip 48 from the periphery of the heel-seat portion of the outsole of the shoe, the point A (Fig. 19)- at the central part of the heel breast line 358' of the outsole lies in a vertical axis extending downward approximately through the point of tangency of the pitch line of the gear I24 with the pitch line I29 (Fig. 12) of the teeth of the rack I28, the shoulder forming cutte 52, as above stated, at such time being arranged just above point A. When the lever 334 is raised from its horizontal position, the shoulder forming cutter 52 is moved to the right, as viewed from the front of the machine, along the cutting edge 31] of the tubular cutter 28 and simultaneously therewith the outsole is swung horizontally in such a path that the point A upon the outsole travels approximately in a cycloidal path to A, the heel breast line 358 of the outsole rolling laterally on the general plane of movement of the shoulder forming cutter 52, which plane includes the pitch line I29 of the teeth of the rack I28, the construction and arrangement of the machine being such that the portion of the heel breast line 358 being trimmed is always approximately tangent to said plane.

After one heel breast receiving shoulder 56 has been formed upon the outsole, the operator depresses the lever 334, causing the cutter 52 to moveto the left, as viewed from the front of the machine, along the cutting edge 30 of the tubular cutter 28 back to its central position in timed relation with the support 40, which also moves the shoe back to its central position. Continued depression of the leve 334 from its horizontal position causes the support to swing the outsole horizontally in such a path that the point A on the outsole travels in a cycloidal path to A as the portion of the heel breast line 358 to the left of the heightwise median plane 23'I of the outsole 20 rolls alongthe plane 5|, the construction and arrangement of the machine being such that the section of the heel breast line portion of the outsole being operated upon by the shoulder forming cutter 52 is always approximately tangent to the plane 5|. The operato then raises the lever 334 until it is approximately horizontal, to move the shoulder forming cutter 52 and the shoe 22 back to their central positions.

I The vertical axis about which the attached outsole 20 of the shoe 22 is swung laterally while maintaining the break line 246 (Fig. 18) of the heel seat of the shoe in its plane extends heightwise of the shoe and shifts laterally or transversely 'of the outsole as the shoulder forming cutter 52 moves bodily transversely of said outsole about the axis 32 in the general plane 5 I.

By providing means for moving the central heel breast line portion of the outsole of the shoe mounted upon the support 40 in approximately cycloidal paths AA, AA" which intersect in a cusp lying approximately in the plane 5| of bodily movement of the shoulder forming cutter 52, it will be apparent that the heel breast line 358, which is approximately circular as viewed from above, will roll on said plane 5I,-the timing being such that the shoulder forming cutting upon the outsole takes place progressively approximately at the points of tangency of said heel breast line with the plane 5|.

It will be understood that the curvature of the heel breast receiving shoulders 56 lengthwise of the shoe may be varied slightly, in order in the finished shoe better to fit the transverse curvature of the breast of the heel, by changing the operative position of the screw 354 in the slot 352 of the quadrant 348, thereby changing slightly the timing between the shoulder forming cutter 52 and the shoe support 40. When such an adjustment is effected, the different sections of the heel breast line portion of the outsole being operated upon by the cutter 52 will not be tangent to the general plane 5| of bodily movement of the shoulder forming cutter 52. It has been found, however, that even though sections of the heel breast line portion of the outsole being out are displaced somewhat from their tangential relation with the plane 5|, a

satisfactory heel breast receiving shoulder mat be formed. It will be apparent that with the above-described construction and arrangement the front and rear portions of the sho support 45 move from side to side in opposite directions during the formation of the heel breast receiving shoulders 55 and may be defined as having such movement.

The operation of the machine will now be briefly described. When the machine is idle, the work carrier 34 (Figs. 1 to 3, 5 and 8) is in its retracted position against the collars I'I'4 (Figs. 1 to 4), 116 (Figs. 1, 3 and 8). Preparatory to operating the machine, the back gage I82 (Figs. 4 to 'l, 11 and 15) is adjusted to its proper lengthwise position upon the shoe support 45, the matrix plates 35 are adjusted to their proper widthwise positions, and the toe rest I84 is moved to the desired heightwise and lengthwise position. The operator then depresses the treadle 23? (Figs. 1 and 2) to open the matrix plates 35, places the last I upon which the shoe is mounted upon the leaf spring I'I8 (Figs. 4, 5, l5 and 16) of the shoe support 48 and slides the shoe rearward until its rear end engages the back gage I82, the heel-seat portion of the outsole overlying the matrix plates '36 and the extreme rear end of the outsole overlying the constantly rotating tubular cutter 28. As the shoe is moved against the back gage I82, the treadle 231 is released, causing the matrix plates 36 to move inward under the action of the spring 236 to their operative positions determined by the setting of the screw 236.

The lever 284 is next swung forward and downward until the spring-pressed 'detent 2'I4 enters the recess 216 (Figs. 3, 11 and 11a) in said lever, causing the spring-pressed plungers 44 of the presser member 42 to force an area of the heel-seat portion of the outsole arranged just ahead of the cutting edge 30 of the tubular cutter '28 against the cylindrical surfaces I14 (Figs. 8 and 9) of the matrix plates 36 and into the U-shaped opening 46 formed between said plates. The operator then depresses the 'treadle I'II (Figs. 1 and 2) while gripping the forepart of the shoe and constantly forcing it against the back gage I32, causing the carrier 34 to slide rearward on the rods I02, I04 until the boss I58 (Figs. 2, 5 and 8) on the carrier engages the stop collar H8 (in the rod I02, with the result that the outsole, flexed to a predetermined shape between the matrix plates 36 and the plungers 44, is forced, while firmly held, against the cutting edge 38 of the tubular cutter 28 to cause the horseshoe-shaped chip 48 to be trimmed from the periphery of the heel-seat portion of the outsole by slicing cuts.

When the carrier 34 engages the stop collar N8, the forward edges2l6 (Figs. 8,9 and 10) "of the matrix plates 38 are arranged approximately in the plane of the cutting edge 30 of the tubular cutter '23. Just before the carrier 34 reaches the rearward limit of its movement, the cam 312 (Figs. 2 and 3) moves the rocker block 284 counterclockwise, as viewed from the front of the machine, until the cutting teeth of 'the shoulder forming cutter 52 are arranged just above the center of the heel breast line 358 of the outsole and just below and in front of the cutting edge 38 of the tubular cutter 28.

Assuming that the machine has been initially set to accommodate Cuban work, the detent 340 (Figs. 1 to 5) of the lever 334 having been moved into the recess 348 (Figs. 2, Band '4) of the quadram 348 and the gear locking detent I54 having been withdrawn from the recess I56, the operator raises the lever 334 from its then horizontalposition, causing the shoulder forming cutter 52to be moved bodily to the right, as viewed from the front of the machine, along the cutting edge 30 of the tubular cutter 28 and causing the heel-seat portion of the shoe on the support to swing counterclockwise, as viewed from above, in the general plane of its break line 246 about a laterally shifting axis, as above described, to form one heel breast receiving shoulder 56. The lever 334 is then depressed to form the other heel breast receiving shoulder 56 and is then moved back to its horizontal position, causing the shoulder forming cutter 52 and the shoe support 40 to be moved back to their central positions.

The operator then withdraws the detent 214 from the recess 216, to allow the presser member 42 to be moved to its raised, inoperative position under the action of the spring 210, and removes his foot from the treadle III to allow the carrier 34 to move under the action of the spring l2! (Fig. 2) forward to its retracted position against the collars H4, H6. The shoe is then removed from the machine preparatory to operating upon the next shoe.

As above explained, when operating upon Louis work, the shoe support 40 is at all times rigidly secured to the carrier 34 by the locking detent I54, the shoe remaining stationary as the shoulder forming cutter 52 moves along the cutting edge 30 of the tubular cutter 28 to form the heel breast receiving shoulders 54.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a heel seat fitting machine, a cutter movable transversely of an outsole of a shoe, and means operative in timed relation with the cutter for swinging the outsole about an axis which extends heightwise of the shoe and shifts laterally of said outsole as the cutter is moved transversely of said outsole,

2. In a heel seat fitting machine, a cutter movable transversely of an attached outsole of a shoe, and means operative in timed relation with the cutter for swinging the heel-seat portion of the shoe laterally in the general plane of its break line as the cutter is moved transversely of said outsole.

3. In a heel seat fitting machine, a cutter, mechanism for moving the cutter transversely across an attached outsole of a shoe, and means operative in response to movement of and in timed relation with the cutter for swinging the heel-seat portion of the shoe from side to side while maintaining the general plane of the break line of said heel-seat portion approximately par allel to itself as the cutter is moved transversely across said outsole.

4. In a heel seat fitting machine, a support for a shoe having an attached outsole, a shoulder forming cutter movable in a plane transversely of said outsole, and means for swinging the support, while the shoulder forming cutter moves in said plane, about an axis which extends heightwise of the shoe upon the support and shifts laterally parallel to itself in said plane.

5. In a heel seat fitting machine, a support for a shoe having an attached outsole, a cutter movable transversely of said outsole in a plane to form heel breast receiving shoulders on said outsole, and means for swinging an approximately circular heel breast line of the outsole of the shoe mounted upon the support, which line is curved lengthwise of the outsole, in tangential relation with the plane of movement of the cutter while the cutter moves transversely of said outsole.

6. In a heel seat fitting machine, a support for a shoe having an attached outsole, a shoulder forming cutter movable in a plane transversely of the outsole of the shoe mounted upon the support, and means movable in timed relation with the cutter for moving forward and rear ends of the support from side to side in opposite directions to cause the cutter to form on said outsole heel breast receiving shoulders which are curved lengthwise of the outsole and are constructed and arranged to receive a Cuban heel.

7. In a heel seat fitting machine, a support for a shoe, a shoulder forming cutter, means for moving the cutter heightwise and Widthwise of the shoe mounted upon the support in a plane, and means operative in timed relation with the cutter for swinging the forward and rear ends of the support laterally in opposite directions.

8. In a heel seat fitting machine, a shoulder forming cutter bodily movable transversely of an outsole of a shoe in a plane, and means for moving a central heel breast line portion of the outsole in approximately a cycloidal path as the cutter moves transversely of said outsole.

9. In a heel seat fitting machine, a shoulder forming cutter bodily movable transversely of an outsole of a shoe in a plane, and means for mov ing a central heel breast line portion of the outsole in approximately cycloidal paths which form a cusp lying approximately in the plane of movement of the cutter.

10. In a heel seat fitting machine, a support for a shoe, a power-driven toothed rotary cutter mounted for movement transversely of an outsole of a shoe, and means operative in timed relation with the cutter for moving a portion of the support in a cycloidal path as the cutter moves transversely of the outsole.

11. In a heel seat fitting machine, a support 7 for a shoe having an attached outsole, a shoulder forming cutter movable transversely of said outsole in a plane, and means operative in timed relation with the cutter for imparting approximately cycloidal movement to a portion of said outsole as the cutter moves transversely thereof, said means being so constructed and arranged that the cutter at all times trims the outsole along portions of a longitudinally curved heel breast line thereof which are tangent to said plane.

12. In a heel seat fitting machine, a support for a shoe, means for trimming material from the periphery of the heel-seat portion of an outsole of the shoe mounted upon the support, a cutter movable in a fixed path transversely of the outsole to remove from said outsole material trimmed from the periphery of the outsole by said means and to form heel breast receiving shoulders 'on the outsole, and means operative in timed relation with the cutter for moving the support and accordingly the shoe into different angular positions with relation to the path of movement of the cutter as said cutter is moved transversely of the outsole,

13. In a heel seat fitting machine, a support for a shoe, means for trimming material from the periphery of the heel-seat portion of an outsole of a shoe mounted upon the support, a cutter movable bodily in a predetermined path transversely of the outsole to remove from said outsole material trimmed from the periphery of the outsole by said means and to form heel breast receiving shoulders on said outsole, and means operative in timed relation with said cutter for swinging the heel-seat portion of the shoe approximately in the general plane of its break line into different angular positions with relation to the path of movement of the cutter.

14. In a heel seat fitting machine, a cutter, means for rotating the cutter, a support for a shoe, means for effecting relative translatory movement between said cutter and the support in a rectilinear path to trim material simultaneously from the opposite lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of an outsole of the shoe, and means for thereafter effecting relative swinging movement between the cutter and the support to trim alternately material from the opposite lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of the outsole.

15. In a heel seat fitting machine, a cutter, means for rotating the cutter, a support for a shoe, means for effecting relative movement of translation between the cutter and the support in a rectilinear path to trim material simultaneously from the opposite lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of an outsole of the shoe, and means for thereafter effecting relative cycloidal movement between the cutter and a portion of the support to trim alternately material from the op posite lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of the outsole.

16. In a heel seat fitting machine, a rotatable cutter having a cutting edge, means for rotating the cutter, a support for a shoe, means for effecting relative movement of translation between the cutter and the support in a rectilinear path to trim material simultaneously from the opposite lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of an outsole of the shoe, means for thereafter effecting relative swinging movement between the cutter and the support to trim alternately material from the opposite lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of the outsole, and a cutter movable transversely of the outsole along the cutting edge of said rotatable cutter for forming heel breast receiving shoulders upon the outsole and for removing said material from the outsole.

17, In a heel seat fitting machine, a rotatable cutter having a cutting edge arranged in a plane, means for rotating the cutter, a support for a shoe, means for effecting relative movement of translation between the cutter and the support in a rectilinear path to trim material simultaneously from the opposite lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of the outsole of the shoe, a shoulder forming cutter movable along the cutting edge of the first-named cutter approximately in the plane in which the cutting edge of the cutter is arranged, and means for moving a portion of the support in a cycloidal path as the shoulder forming cutter moves along the cutting edge of the first-named cutter.

18. In a heel seat fitting machine, a cutter having a curved cutting edge, means for moving the cutter lengthwise of its cutting edge, a support for a shoe, means for effecting relative movement of translation of the cutter and the support lengthwise of the shoe to trim material simultaneously from opposite lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of the outsole by cuts progressing toward a heel breast line of the outsole, and means for thereafter efiecting relative swinging movement of the cutter and the support to form alternately forward continuations of said cuts.

All

19. A heel seat fitting machine having, in combination, a tubular cutter, means for rotating the cutter about an axis, a support for a shoe, means for moving the support lengthwise of said axis with relation to the cutter to cause material to be trimmed simultaneously by slicing cuts from opposite sides of the heel-seat portion of an outsole of the shoe, mean for limiting said movement of the support lengthwise of said axis, and means for thereafter effecting relative swinging movement of the cutter and the support to form continuations of said slicing cuts.

20'. In a heel seat fitting machine, a support for a shoe having an attached outsole, a shoulder forming cutter movable bodily transversely of said outsole approximately in a plane, a fixed rack having teeth the pitch line of which is arranged in the general plane of movement of the cutter, a pinion secured to the support, and means operative in timed relation with the shoulder forming cutter for rotating the pinion along said rack to cause a portion of the support to move in cycloidal paths which form a cusp lying approximately in said plane as the shoulder forming cutter moves transversely of the outsole.

21. A heel seat fitting machine having, in combination, a tubular cutter having a cutting edge arranged in a plane, means for rotating the cutter about an axis, a support for a shoe, means for bodily moving the support with relation to the cutter lengthwise of said axis to cause material to'be trimmed simultaneously by slicing cuts from opposite sides of the heel-seat portion of an outsole of the shoe, a stop for limiting movement of the support lengthwise of said axis, a fixed rack having teeth the pitch line of which is arranged approximately in the plane of the cutting edge of the cutter when the support is at the limit of its movement determined by the stop, a pinion secured to the support, and means for rotating the pinion along said rack in two directions to cause a portion of the support to move in cycloidal paths which form a cusp lying approximately in said plane to form continuations of said slicing cuts.

22. A heel seat fitting machine having, in combination, a support for a shoe, a cutter having a blade curved about an aXiS' extendin generally lengthwise of the shoe, matrix plates which are curved generally about said axis and which are spaced to form an opening and are constructed and arranged to support the heel-seat portion of an outsole of the shoe, a presser member for forcing the heel-seat portion of said outsole upon the support against the matrix plates to hex said heel-"seat portion to a shape determined by said plates, and means for effecting relative translatory movement between the cutter on the one hand and the support and the matrix plates on the other hand to trim a horseshoe-shaped piece of surplus material from the periphery of the heel-seat portion of the outsole.

23. In a heel seat fitting machine, a support for a shoe having an attached outsole, a cutter having a blade curved about an axis extending generally lengthwise of said shoe and having an axially facing correspondingly curved cutting edge, means for rotating the cutter about said axis, a matrix associated with the support, a presser member constructed and arranged to force a heel-seat portion of the outsole of the shoe against the matrix, and means for effecting relative translatory movement between the cutter and the presser member on the one hand and the support and thematrix on the other hand to present 

